Dr Archeville

Davyd Palahniuk knew he had a number of things about himself that he needed to work on. For example, he had always been somewhat conflict averse -- specifically, whenever people argued loudly in front of him, he'd shut down. A number of factors played into this -- his introverted nature, a lack of assertiveness, his preference for people to work with each other rather than against each other, his upbringing in a loving home where such conflicts were nearly non-existent (as far as he knew). Some of these aspects of his personality had improved over the years -- heated arguments on film or tv used to cause such reactions, but had not done so for many years -- but it was still an issue he needed to work on. And, as was often the case with metahumans (especially teenage metahumans), his powers were reflecting and exacerbating that personality trait. Which is why he was currently a puddle of muddy goo on the floor under the table. ... stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid... But now things were quieter, and one of the arguers had gone. An eyestalk slithered up from under the table, peeked around, and was followed by the rest of him, flowing up and back into a semblance of his human form. The features were mostly there, and the coloration a bit off, but as he calmed his appearance came back into focus. "S-so... I-I-I ag-gree with Leroy: we sh-should put some thought into t-team logis... logist... team stuff." He took a deep breath, held it a moment, slowly exhaled, "I think Mia's a fine choice for team leader. I'm not sure the cafeteria at supper time would be good for our meetings, though. Maybe one of the student lounges? Or the gym? As for identifiers, that's a tricky one, since a Grue infiltrator could read your mind and know anything you do. Maybe," he tilted his head towards Abby, "something mystical?"

Heroditus grunted as he fought off the eldritch energies, bolstering his mind with memories of their childhood. He helping her with her history studies. She helping him in the basics of spellcasting. Protecting each other during storms, barbarian raids, invasions from Surface villains, schoolyard bullies, and more. "<Fight it, Thoedora!,>" he pleaded as he reached for more components. He slipped something that looked like a set of gem-studded brass knuckles over the metallic handwraps, quickly popped out some of the jewels, and tugged at the handwraps so they now covered his forearm. "<Focus on my voice, sister! Remember Atlantis! Remember our family! Remember mother, and father!"> He channeled another burst of arcane energy through the devices on his arms, and a Heroditus-shaped pulse of force shot forth, picking up stony debris as it went. By the time it reached Theodora, it had formed a rocky likeness of her brother, with exaggeratedly large hands, coming at her for a firm embrace.

Starting Conditions: Undamaged, 1 HP Free Action: Extra Effort to power stunt a Snare effect off of his Magic Snare 9 ("Hugging Hands of Heroditus"; PF: Accurate [+7 to hit total]; Drawback: Reduced Range [5 increments]) {18/18pp} Standard Action: Fire Snare at Theodora 1d20+7: 26 [1d20=19] w00t! And now she must make a Reflex save, DC 19. Fail, she's entangled, fail by 5+, she's bound & helpless. Ending Conditions: Undamaged, 1 HP, will be fatigued at start of next round.

Davyd had spent most of his time ashore entertaining the folks there, mostly doing impersonations of the tourists and of various celebrities. With help from Lulu's illusions, they were even able to recreate some film scenes, though the tourists would be surprised when they checked their phones later and found the illusory scenery and background extras had not recorded. Back aboard the catamaran, he'd showered and changed, and now wore sky blue shorts and a white tee shirt. He picked at the salad -- he wasn't overly fond of vegetables or chilled foods, and figured he could hunt for something later if hunger struck later in the evening. But the photographs Doctor Durant passed out distracted him from any concerns about food. "So, what exactly is the plan here? Are we just headed down to examine it, take pictures? Or are we going to try bringing stuff up? Maybe even bring the whole ship up?"

Artificer's Reflex save 1d20+3: 5 [1d20=2] Oh no! Artificer's Will save 1d20+6: 12 [1d20=6] Oh no! Gonna use one (1) of my HPs to reroll that. Artificer's re-rolled Will save 1d20+6: 20 [1d20=14] Whew! Down to 1 HP now.

Artificer 3+5+4+5 = 17 posts, +8 from Dok 25 posts = 3pp Again (3) Daka Rush: Claremont (0) Hydra the Queen (5) Punching Up (0) Reptile Brain (4) Still as Water (5) Tech Compliance (0) Horrorshow 8+2+1+6+1+2 = 20 posts, +5 from Dok = 25 posts = 3pp, +1 Mod Point = 4pp Amygdala (0) Century for a Dame (8) Dead Men Tell No Tales (2) Extradimensional Birdwatching Club (0) Freaky Fraternity (0) Halloween Mall Trip (1) Intergalactic Sightseeing (6) One By One (1) #ReleaseTheRavenCut (2) Titanium Characters Dead Head 0 posts to ??? Bedlam Burning: Beauty and the Beasts (0) Everyone Is From Somewhere (0) Red Death Redemption (0) Doktor Archeville 14 posts -- 8 to Artificer, 5 to Horrorshow, 1 to The Void All Aboard the Nightmare Ship! (14) Other Mod point, to Horrorshow

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Horrorshow in da house!

According to a convo in discord, Theodora is in melee range. So: Starting Conditions: Unharmed, 2 HP Standard Action: use Create Object to form a ring of Heroditus statues around Theodora, trapping her. She'll need to make a Reflex save, DC 17. If she makes it, she slips out. If she fails, she's trapped and will need to break out (Toughness 7). Ending Conditions: Unharmed, 2 HP.

"<Sister, no!>" Heroditus called out (in their native tongue), both concerned for her violent mindset and any harm that might befall her from the chemical weapons Dalekos had unleashed. What miasma has he unleashed? How much testing did it undergo? Did he coerce someone in my family to make it? His hands had already gone to the pockets on his belt, and he slipped on a set of metallic handwraps. The bands -- gold, copper, and silver on the left, iron, tin, and lead on the right -- had numerous astrological symbols engraved on them, which flared with white light as he channeled his own arcane energies into them. He slammed his palms down on the floor of the temple roof, and a line of the same light lanced out across the stone from hims to his sister, then around her in a circle. A dozen dots of light appeared along the edge of the circle, growing wider and rising up, pulling the now-pliable stone with it. The dozen pseudo-stalagmites reached up to Theodora, widening and extending connecting bars to each other. She, and those outside watching, could see they were quickly forming a cage made of interlocking statues of Heroditus, some looking in with a soft, loving expression, others looking out with a fierce protective look. "<This isn't you, Theodora,>" he pleaded, "<they have changed you! Let me help!>"

Artificer's Notice check 1d20+5: 9 [1d20=4] He's lost in his bamboozlement!

Heroditus had, as was so often the case, left dumbfounded by Ben's rapid-fire retorts. So was he 'joking' about the 'Radioactive Poisonous Death-Monsters in the Sewers' thing? If such creatures had invaded the city's infrastructure, surely there would be reports, either of attacks or an increase in the frequency of system breakdowns. And when sewage lines break down, people notice! Even Surfacers! He was about to ask Ben for clarity on that subject, when Astrid intervened. "Ah, more joking, yes?," he replied, hoping his smile convinced them that he was completely in on the joke. (He was 95% sure.) "Yes, jokes to build camaraderie and strengthen inter-team bonds," he clasped his hands together, "splendid!" He gestured towards Astrid's phone, "so, are you reviewing some of your latest works, or seeking inspiration in the performances of others?"

Drakulon, the planet Vampirella came from, had rivers of blood that those vampires drank from. The vampires from Lifeforce fed on, well, lifeforce. The M-113 Creature -- from Star Trek: tOS -- fed on salt (and, by extension, electrolytes).

Heroditus nodded sympathetically along with Giang's words. He respected her ability to break free of the criminal connections her father had, and to make her own way in the world. Family was important, yes, but the greater good to society must be considered. And if one's family was working against society, then one must break from them, at the very least, if not directly oppose them. But then she mentioned a name of a Surfacer that even he knew. That many Atlanteans knew. "I am familiar with that one: Typhoon has tried to usurp the throne of Atlantis on several occasions. Always repelled, of course -- the last time using a sonic canon that one of my ancestors had created!" There was mostly pride in that, though Giang also noted a hint of... reluctance? Shame? "I am relieved to hear you & your mother have broken away from him," he aid, all genuine warmth, "and should your grandfather ever try to capture or harm you," he placed his right hand over his heart, "I would do all I can to help you."

... maybe Mia should be the leader. "Yes, yes, we're all individually terrifyingly powerful," Davyd said in what he hoped was a diplomatic tone. "When I first got my powers, I became a giant blob-monster, so I might be able to go kaiju-a-kaiju with Gigantosaur. Though I'd prefer luring the beastie away, either into a trap you all set up or back to Kaiju Island. And, yes," he turned his head towards Eira, "I can fly, if I turn into something with wings." He swiveled his head towards Abby, then back to Eira. "You two know each other, yes? That's great, should make things easier for you here!" Back to Abby, then back to Eira, "so do we know what? Some secret that might compromise us working together as a team?" He leaned back a bit so he could get everyone in his field of vision, "we've all got some secrets, yeah? And that's natural, sure. But if there's anything that might wind up working against the team, that might pit you against us, that's no good, and I'd suggest we get those out as soon as possible. Here, I'll start." Davyd stood, his form not so much shifting as melting. Now he was only vaguely humanoid in shape and size, with a narrow head featuring a thin lipless mouth, two tiny slits instead of a nose, and solid eyes of an indistinct, muddy hue. His flesh was now a muddy mix of blacks, browns, pinks, reds, and yellows. "This is my true form now," he said in a wet, warbling approximation of his voice, "and I am this way because the accident that gave me my powers infused me with some Grue DNA. Now, I don't feel Grue-y, I still feel like the horror- and sci-fi-loving teen I was before the accident," he shifted back into his Davyd form as he sat back down, "but I know that there is a chance that, at some point, my mind may change, just as my body has. And I'm telling you all now so you can be prepared for that."

Whoa! "Patriot" looked to Mia, to Lulu, to Leroy, to Abby, then back to Eira. "We, ah," he shrug-morphed back into Davyd, "that is, I don't think we ever decided on that. It's definitely not me," he held up his hands defensively, "I am not the leader type. I'm happy to back the team, provide whatever help I can, but I'm, ah," he glanced around again, "I'm not a shhh-" He stopped suddenly, and a grin spread across his face, "oh, that's an idea! Okay, so," he looked around at everyone again, "we all sorta know what we can each do, right? But what kind of roles would we fill on the team? Like... okay, so, say a Gigantosaur shows up in the bay, stomping towards the city. And we're the only heroes around, the only ones who can protect the citizens. Who's doing what?"

Heroditus appreciated that change could be difficult, especially on a societal level, so he nodded along with Giang's words. "<If you did understand how it worked, you would be doing better than most of my people!>" he replied with a chuckle-click. "<So much knowledge was lost,"> he looked off in the distance, tone shifted down, then back up, "<but it has been my family's proud tradition to recover that, and restore Atlantis to its former glory. Which has afforded my family some minor boons, recognition by the nobility,>" he said with disinterest, "<but I prefer the work to the accolades.>" He turned back to face her, "<what of your family? Any traditions you hope to uphold?>"

Artificer's initiative 1d20+1: 19 [1d20=18] HP Total: 2

Davyd smiled and waved to Abby, then turned back to Mia. "I've also befriended some giant space bears," he added with a solemn nod. Then his attention turned to Leroy. "I would advise against bringing food in here," Davyd offered. "You know the librarians hate that. Besides, based on what Benny told me what happened in Tech Club, I'm not entirely sure the stuff you make is... ah... safe." Wait, Mia's our leader? Did I miss something? He rose from his chair, "so you don't want to be here. I get it," he flipped his chair around, "you think you're too cool for school, that you've been done wrong." His voice and form shifted, "but you're here, now, so," and now The Patriot was sitting backwards in the chair, looking right at Eira, and pointing at her with hie right index fingers, "what do you think can be done to make things right?"

Artificer's Reflex save -- 1d20+3: 16 [1d20=13] I haven't made a sheet for Theodora, so for now, I'll base her on the PL 10 Mystic from Instant Superheroes (though she should be PL 8, same as Artificer). Reflex save -- 1d20+6: 13 [1d20=7]

Shapeshifted by EP Horrorshow 7 pp free. And he's got enough now that he could be PL 12 (he's PL 11 now). But I'm not going there. Instead, I'm going backwards, lowering him to PL 10! And giving him some much-needed skills. Abilities [-2pp] Reduce Intelligence to 12/+1 [-2pp]. I've got plenty of brainy characters, let's have this one be a bit different. Combat [-6pp] Reduce Base (non-Enhanced) Attack Bonus from +3 to +2. [-2pp] Reduce Base Defense Bonus from +4 to +2. [-4pp] Combat Block would now be as follows COMBAT: 4 + 4 = 8PP Initiative: +3 Attack: +10 Melee, +4 Ranged (+4/+2 Base, Attack Focus [Melee] +6/+3) Grapple: +18, +15 if Morphed Defense: +8 (+2 Base, +6/+4 Dodge Focus), +1 Flat-Footed Knockback: -11 vs. Physical, -6 vs. Energy as “Chitinous Horror”; -6 if Morphed or in "Oozey" form Saving Throws [---] Please note that his Impervious Toughness when in Chitinous Horror form is only effective vs. Physical attacks. Skills [+10pp] +40 ranks in skills: +5r in Bluff, +3r in Concentration, +7r in Gather Information, +5r in Intimidate (and I'm getting rid of his Enhanced Skills), +4r in Knowledge/Life Science, +1r in Knowledge/Pop Culture, +5r in Notice, +1r in Perform/Acting, +7r in Sense Motive, and +2r in Stealth. [+10pp] Skills Block would now be as follows SKILLS: 72R = 18PP Bluff 7 (+10; +10 more to imitate sounds when Shapechanged) Concentration 7 (+10) Disguise 7 (+10; +30 more w/ Morph, +15 more w/ Shapeshift) Gather Information 7 (+10) Intimidate 7 (+10) Language 2 (English, Russian, Ukrainian [native]) Knowledge (Life Science) 4 (+5) Knowledge (Popular Culture) 9 (+10) Notice 7 (+10) Perform (Acting) 1 (+4; +10 more to imitate sounds when Shapechanged) Sense Motive 7 (+10) Stealth 7 (+10) Feats [-1pp] Remove 1 rank of Attack Focus (Melee). [-1pp] Under "Fluid Fighter," change Attack Focus (Melee) 3 (To 7 total) to Attack Focus (Melee) 3 (to 6 total) Powers [-1pp] Remove Enhanced Skills 4 (horrific transformation; Intimidate +4). [-1pp] Totals Abilities (26) + Combat (8) + Saving Throws (10) + Skills (18) + Feats (11) + Powers (100) - Drawbacks (3) = 170/177 Power Points [7 free] Power Level: 10/12 (170/177 PP) Unspent Power Points: 7 Trade-Offs: -2 Defense/+2 Toughness Miscellaneous Notes Remove the "As he is now" line, and replace it with this: Combat By Form Chitinous Horror Form: Melee +10 (Grapple +18), Strikes +10, Defense +8 (+1 flat-footed), Toughness +12 (Knockback -11 vs. Physical, -6 vs. Energy). [PL 10 offense, PL 10 defense] Oozey Form: Melee +10 (Grapple +18), Strikes +10, Defense +8 (+1 flat-footed), Toughness +12 (Knockback -6). [PL 10 offense, PL 10 defense] When Morphed: Melee +10 (Grapple +15), Unarmed Strike +5, Defense +8 (+1 flat-footed), Toughness +12 (Knockback -6). [PL 8 offense, PL 10 defense] When powerless: Melee +5 (Grapple +6), Unarmed Strike +1, Defense +6 (+1 flat-footed), Toughness +2 (Knockback -1). [PL 3 offense, PL 4 defense] Thanks!

"Ooh, cousin, you know I like the Space Treks!," 'Olivia' replied with a laugh. "Okay, next movie night, we'll do Master and Commander. But what to pair it with? Something with the same leads? The same director? Same setting?" Olivia looked down at herself, then back up at Lulu and grinned, "yes, you could say that this one's all me. Er, all mine. And sure, that sounds fine," Olivia turned back to the fitting room, "I heard a few new places have opened in the food court here -- let's see what's new!"

If Davyd had been drinking, he'd be doing a spit-take about now. "Your minder? No, no. No, no, no," he waved his hands as if to brush the thought away. "I'm just a student, here to learn, same as all of you. If you want to be like me, I won't stop you, but I think you should try to be... well... you." He glanced around at his squadmates, "that is what they say high school, being a teenager, is all about, yes? Finding yourself, figuring out what sort of adult you want to be? Stepping out of our parent's shadows, becoming your own person?" It suddenly dawned on him that three of his squadmates would be very keen on getting out of their respective "family business." Hunh. "So I suppose," he sat down, "that's what this meeting is about, yes? Learning about each other -- not just our powers, but our personalities, our hopes and fears. Not just what we can do, but why we do what we do."

Heroditus smiled, "<I am pleased to hear that my home inspired you to study the world's oceans. For so long Surfacers have treated them as dumping areas,>" he briefly covered his nose and shook his head, "<heedless of the damage they were causing, to the environment, to their drinking water, or to us. The last one could be excused, due to ignorance,>" he shrugged, "<but not the first two.>" He made a series of clicks -- the Atlantean equivalent of a chuckle -- at her reply to the Summers/Claremont relationship. "<It is indeed. Such variety here!>" The Atlantean word for 'variety' he used carried a shaded meaning, one of slight distaste, though he kept his smile up. He clapped his hands sharply and nodded, "<ah, so you understand more than most Surfacers! Yes, our technology is comprised of what you would consider both mechanics and mysticism, though part of the problem in studying them here is that we do not consider them fully separate fields. On the other hand,>" his smile faded to a thin straight line, "<knowledge of our skills and processes is rare even among my people, much of it lost during the Sinking, and what little interest there has been in it has been on recovering and restoring what was lost, not in developing new things. Which leads to the crux of my difficulties: at home,"> he held up his right hand, palm down, "<I have access to the finest techno-wizards, though they are few, and constantly look back, trying to reclaim the past. Up here,>" he held up his left hand, palm up, "<I have access to a greater range of knowledge and resources, of minds that look to the future, but they all see two paths where I see one, so I must work out,>" he brought his palms together, "<how to merge them.>"

"Yeah, well, practicin's still good, right?," the fake Lulu replied to the real one with a shrug. She rolled her head, and her form smoothly shifted back into a round-faced Ukrainian-American teenage boy. "There is skill required in the use of our abilities," he addressed the group, "so we should be practicing constantly, yes? And if doing so causes a bit of harmless confusion among our squadmates, well," he shrugged again, "that's better than practicing in an unsafe environment, with unknown actors, yes?" Maybe there was some truth to what he said. Or maybe it was just an excuse to use his powers, which he did love doing. Or, perhaps, a bit of both. He smiled and extended a hand to Eira again, "Davyd Palahniuk, also known as Horrorshow. A pleasure to meet you!"